Machine for handling flanged pins



Dec. 16, 1952 s. L. G OOKIN MACHINE FOR HANDLING FLANGED PINS 4 Sheec sSheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1950 [721/971 {0 I SyZvesferL. Goo/(in,

Dec. 16, 1952 V s, GOOKIN 2,621,824

MACHINE FOR HANDLING FLANGED PINS Filed Sepjs; 15, 1950 4 Sheets- Sheet s Dec. 16, 1952 5, L. GOQKIN 2,621,824

MACHINE FOR HANDLING FLANGED PINS Filed Sept. 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i; Cw" E 9 I In UQTZ Z 07 SylvesferL. Goo/fin Patented Dec. 16, 1952 MACHINE FOR HANDLING FLANGED PINS Sylvester L. Gookin, Quincy, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 13, 1950, Serial No. 184,541

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for the automatic feeding and orienting of pins and more particularly to an assembling machine having mechanism for feeding one or more pins at a time from a promiscuous supply to a definite assembly position, the pins being either hollow or partially tubular and respectively having an external transverse flange or shoulder portion.

As used herein the term flanged pin is intended to denote a hollow, elongated article having an external collar or enlarged portion extending circumferentially, the article not necessarily being headed, pointed or of circular section. Pins of the general form just described are widely used in many industries for different purposes. They serve, for example, as fasteners, ornaments, bearings, as contact elements in electrical devices, and may even function as small containers. The preformed flange on such a pin, depending on the particular application, may be located at one end or intermedate the ends and it may serve as a guide for the pin, aid in its attachment or positioning, or simply be decorative. Whatever the intended use, a common problem arises in automatically manipulating flanged pins in such a manner that they may be consecutively moved from their random positions en masse to a definite position in which they are uniformly oriented for further processing. The problem is naturally more difficult when the pins are so formed that they tend to entangle with or lodge in one another and thereby accumulate and resist orderly arrangement, an important condition to which the invention is specially addressed as will hereinafter be explained.

A primary object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a pin-handling machine having simple and improved means for consecutively feeding flanged pins from a haphazard sup- 1;

ply thereof, the pins to be individually delivered, in uniformly oriented condition to a definite pinreceiving position for further processing.

With this object in View a feature of the invention resides in a pin-working machine com prising a hopper for containing flanged pins, a raceway curvedly extending generally downward from the hopper and in communication therewith freely to conduct consecutively a series of said pins endwise, said raceway having an intermediate slotted portion more nearly horizontally disposed, the slot extending longitudinally and being of a width to enable the pins to be vertically suspended by their flanges in said portion, and percussion means engageable with said portion for assuring that endwise conveyance of said pins is transformed by gravity to uniform sidewise delivery thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision in an assembling machine of pin feeding mechanism comprising a hopper provided with an inclined bottom Wall having an upstanding radial rib, a dual swingable raceway registering with a port on each side of said rib and contiguous with the lower margin of said wall, the raceway being adapted to accommodate only endwise passage of the pins and having its passageways merging respectively with a groove formed in the bottom wall, and agitating means in the hopper for sweeping the pins against both sides of said rib, into the grooves, and through the ports.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means at the swingable delivery end of the raceway for accurately positioning the endmost flanged pin therein prior to its release to the action of a reciprocable pin inserting instrumentality. Said means comprises, in an illustrative machine, a spring-pressed, pivotally mounted detent having a pin engaging surface including a slot corresponding to the pin flange, said surface being arranged and adapted to accommodate the endmost pin while other pins bear on it so that it is thereby momentarily positioned and precisely held in vertical or other angularly desired relation to the path of the inserting instrumentality.

The above and other features of the invention including novel arrangements and combinations of parts will now be described in more detail in connection with one embodiment, the specific organization selected for. purposes of illustration having application to the problem of feeding and installing flanged contact pins which are to be assembled in electrical devices such as electron tubes. It will be apparent that the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment or application nor to use with the exact form and type of pin here employed as a contact element. It will be recognized, however, that such contact pins do tend when loose to interengage endwise and so present difficult feeding problems.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an illustrative machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the pin feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the parts being in their initial positions;

Fig. 3 is a perspective similar to Fig. 2 but 3 showing the raceway units retracted and the pins being inserted;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the disc and pins after assemblage in the illustrative machine;

Fig. 4a is another perspective of the final assemblage seen in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one hopper, a portion being broken. away to disclose internal construction Fig. 6 is a plan view of some of the parts seen in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of an intermediate portion of a raceway, indicating the percussion member;

Fig. 8 is a side elevationof the' d'elivery" end of a raceway unit and a portion of the percussion means;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a. plan; view of'the. delivery'end of a raceway and detents;

Fig. 12 is. an end View of the, deliveryend of araceway with slotted detents';

Fig. 13. is; a vertical'section of parts inzinoperativepositionat the-rear or-pin-upsetting:station;. and

Fig. 114. is similar tolEigcl3 but showing the =up;- setting tools in operation on. the pins;

In the illustrative machine for assembling two. pairs of flanged electric contact pins; 8; 8 and. I10; I 0:.with a prepunched. circular disc: l2 of insulating; material to, form: abaseunitras shownirr Fig.

4, there. are circularly arranged a pin-loading;

station A (Figs. 1,2; andv 3). at the front of: the machine, a disc loading station B on oneside, an upsetting station. 0. rearwardly; and;a knock-01f or unloading. station D. on; the; otherside. These.

stations arespaced on. a: turret I14: rotatablymounted on. a fixed housing It. Except: for the. structure just noted and: certainfeatures. tosbe hereinafter moreparticularly-described; the general. organization is essentially that: of the. machine disclosed in. United States; Letters; Patent 1,932,420, granted on. applicationv of E. S. Nokes. and relating. to a gang: fastener inserting maxchine; Accordingly,- it: will sufiice if, in: those aspects common to both-,machineson-ly a: brief descriptionais hereinafter set forth.

The housing It is secured to a frame: I185 of; the machine and contains some or all ofawelli-known: form. of meansv (not: shown) required to; rotate the turret I step by. step, clockwise (as viewed: from above) in. a horizontal: plane; Pneumatic, mechanical, or other means'may be employed for the purpose, it only being=necessary that theturcretbeturnedv exactly 90in eachstep, accurately and; successively to. register the aforementioned stations with. respect to spaced; operating, tools. about, to. be, described. Preferably the. arrange,- ment is such that the, turret turningoccurs auto matically as. soon as thetoolsare simultaneously raised therefrom to nonobstructing inoperative positions. Affixed to. the turret. Mend. 90 apart thereon are four jig-blocks 2.0. Each block. is provided with four vertical,bores.22,,22, and 2.4, 24 adapted to receive the cylindrical bodies of the pins 8, 8 andin, h) respectively, thebores22. 22 onone side being somewhat larger'in diameter than-the-bores24, 24' toaccommodate the differently sized pins as commonly used in one type of contact assembly for commercial electron tubes. The cross-sectional shape=of=' a bore thus closely. corresponds with the. lower portion of the pin body to be received. Venting of the lower end of the bores assures easy and rapid pin insertion and subsequent ejection without interference by entrapped air.

Corresponding somewhat with the fastener inserting tools of the above-cited patent, inserting tools 26, 26 and 28, 28 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) are relatively arranged to coincide with the pin-receiving bores when a jig-block 20* is at the pin loading station A. The inserting tools are secured to a plunger 30 arranged to slide in stationary guides 32, 32- boltedto an overhanging portion of the frame l8. Vertical reciprocations of the plunger 30 are effected by its crank connection (not 1 shown) with a cam portion of a horizontal operating shaft 34 (Fig. l) journaled in hearings in the" frame It. In. accordance with common eyeleting practice, each inserting tool is provided with acentral spindle 3E normally projected downwardly by a spring (not shown), the spindle being arranged to enter the barrel Or hollow portion. of a. flanged pin in the delivery end: of a: raceway and to detach the pin from the raceway in consequencev of retracting the latter.

A pulley 38 loosely mounted on th-erear end of the shaft 34. is intended to be driven continu-- ously by a belt 40. connected to the drive shaft of anelectric motor 42'. To. establish driving connection between. the pulley and the operating shaft 34. a suitable starting and. stopping clutch indicated. as awhole at 44 in. Fig. 1. is provided. A rod: 46; for'operating the clutch. is arranged: to be: connected to atreadle not shown). As described in the patent referred to, the arrangement is such that releasingthe treadle' immedi-- ately after tripping the clutch 44 arrests. the shaft 34Latthe completion. of. each cycle.

The initial positions of the several tools, as Well aspartsof the cooperating feed-mechanism hereinafterto be described, are indicated in Figs. 1 and 2'. At station C, from the pin loading stationA, a set of. fourupsetting tools 63, 48 and 50, 50: (Figs. 3, 13 and 14)- are arranged for ver tical reciprocation, the tools 48, dil being adapted to cooperate with the larger bores 22, 22, and the tools 50, 50? being adapted'to cooperate with the pin receiving bores 24, 24'. The upsetting tools are carried by a plunger 52 slidaole in a bearing bracket 54 affixed to the frame I8, and the plunger 52' is actuated by a follower connected thereto (not shown) and engaging a cam 56 (Fig. 1') mounted on the shaft 34. A compression spring58 bearing on the top of the. bracket. 52 and against a collar-53which isverticallysadjustable on the plunger 52 serves to maintain the follower in operative engagement with the cam 56. Secured within a vertical bore in thebottom of the plunger 52. and disposed centrally of the tools 48, 48 and' 50, 50'is'a compression spring 59. (Fig; 14') having a dual function later: tube explained.

As shown in Fig. 1 two similar but oppositely arranged raceway units generally designated. 60'

and 62 are connected to the frame l8.by: horizontal supporting pivots 6|. The unit 60 is-used' to feed the larger pins 8, and theunit 62 feeds.

the pins [0; The delivery ends of the units are moved simultaneously toward and from each otherwith oscillatory motionabout-the. pivots ill The trains of mechanism for respectively operating the raceways in this manner, though here only partially shown, are fully. described in the N-okes patent referred to above, it being sufllcient for present purposes to state that each. train comprises a duplex cam 63 (Fig. 1) carried. by

the shaft 34 for operating a horizontal rock shaft, the motions of which are communicated positively to a raceway unit.

The raceway assemblage 52 only will now be described, it being understood that the unit 66 is similar in structure and operation and differs merely in certain dimensions better to accommodate its pins. A hopper 64 is provided at the upper end of the unit 62 and has an inclined bottom 66 adjacent to which there is a pulley-operated, oscillatory pin-sweeping means such as a brush 68. Two downwardly curved tubes respectively communicate with a port formed at the lower rim portion of the hopper. The ports are of a size to allow only endwise passage of the pins Ii] from within the hopper, and the tubes have smooth internal surfaces arranged to provide a free flowing passageway wherein the pins fall endwise under the influence of gravity. An upstanding rib 12 extends radially along the bottom 66 and between the ports to separate the entry ends of the tubes i9. Also radially formed in the bottom 65 and extending on each side adjacent to the rib E2, so as to constitute channel extensions of the tubes iii, are grooves or gutters M respectively adapted to hold a single pin. It is to be noted that the upper ends of the tubes are substantially tangent to the hopper bottom 6'6 and that their lower portions '16, which actually are an intermediate portion of the raceway unit 62, are preferably more nearly horizontal. The portions 15 are each provided on their undersides with longitudinal slots 18 (Figs. '7 and 8) of a width to permit the pins iii to be sustained by their flanges.

The unit 62 also comprises a stiffening web 88 to which the ends of the tubes Hi are affixed. While other means for effectively jarring the raceway portions 16 may be employed, for reasons to be explained, a highly satisfactory and simple arrangement is here provided. Use is made of the oscillatory movements of the web 80 to actuate a lever 82 pivotally secured to one of the guides 32 and carrying a weighted percussion member 84. A pin 86 fast to the web 88 is arranged to contact a V-shaped cam surface 88 formed in the lever 82 thereby to displace the latter against gravity. The pin and cam sur face are relatively positioned to cause the member 84 intermittently to strike the horizontal portion -'l6'with sharp blows.

The lower portion of the web 60 supports a two-track chute 9 (Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9) arranged to providea further downwardly inclined course for the pins i0 emerging one by one from each of the slotted ends of the tubes 10. As it is high ly desirable to maintain the tracks well filled with pins, it is preferable to have this lower part of the raceway unit rather steeply inclined; the lower portion of the chute 90 may advantageously be curved downwardly as best seen in Fig. 8 so that the delivery end may extend horizontally and thereby suspend the endmost pins approximately vertically.

To prevent the pins from prematurely escaping from the delivery end and in order that the endmost pins I0, is may be accurately registered with spindles 36 and inserting tools 28, 28, a detent 92 (Figs. 8, 10, 11) is pivotally supported on each side of the chute Si) by a vertical pin 94 held by lugs extending from the chute. A compression spring 95 seated in each side of the chute bears against one end of a detent 92 to hold its broad, inwardly curved, pin-engaging end in yielding engagement with a side of the pin I!) about to be delivered.

Preferably this pin-engaging end is provided with a slot 98 (Fig. 12) to accommodate the flange on the pin I8 and is accordingly adapted to engage substantially an entire side of the pin I0, thereby employin the downward pressure of the other pins in the track to aline the endmost pin accu rately.

In the housing It is a stationary knock-off cam 97 (not shown except for a flat portion in Fig. 13) An inclined and raised surface of this cam is arranged beneath station D to be engaged successively by the lower ends of advancing pins 99 respectively mounted for vertical sliding movement in bores formed centrally in each of the jigs 25. To enable the completed assemblages to be cleared from the machine at station D after being lifted by the knock-ofi' cam engagement with the pins t9 and thereby consecutively make jig-blocks 2% available for reloading, a flat plate Hill is secured for rotation with the turret l4 and is adapted to receive the upper portion of each of the blocks 25 A downwardly directedv air stream, either of continuous or intermittent flow, may for example be aimed to strike the lifted assemblages and move them off the plate I00 toward a container.

In operating the illustrative machine, the hoppers 6 initially having been provided with flanged pins, the raceway unit 66 will convey the pins 8' and the raceway unit 62 will similarly supply the E5. Oscillating sweeps of the brush 68 carry the pins is against the sides of the rib 12, and one pin at a time is thereby deflected to fall in the groove it and is automatically alined with a tube it into which the individual pins slide endwise under the influence of gravity and the next sweep of the brush 6%. A steady flow of pins in the tube ii? is desirable and normally obtainedif the radius of curvature therein is not too small. The pins do often tend to lodge within one another, however, regardless of whether their flanges happen to come near their respective lower or upper ends during this part of the feeding. It has been found that this tendency, primarily due to one end of each pin being of reduced diameter as shown in Fig. 4, may impede or obstruct flow, but when the pins reach the more nearly horizontal portions '55, endwise pressure between the pins is considerably relieved. Accordingly, the intermittent blows of the percussion member 84 on these raceway portions are particularly effective in jarring the pins it to assure their being individually free to swing upright in the slots 13. The pins it! are then successively supported by their flanges as they proceed downwardly, the pins having been converted from relative endwise to sidewise formation as shown in Figs. '7 and 9.

Upon tripping the clutch. M to start a cycle, the raceway delivery ends then being directly above station A shown in Fig. 2, the inserting tools 25, 2t and 28, 23 are carried downward by the plunger 39. Each of the spindles 36 enters an endmost flanged pin which is individually separated from its track in a chute 39 upon withdrawal of the latter. Two spindles 35, 36 enter the bores 22, 22, respectively, to guide the pins 8 for insertion by the tools 2t, while two spindles 36, 36 enter the bores 26, 24, respectively, to guide the pins It for insertion by the tools 28. As the raceway units 58, are retracted and returned to initial positions, the members 84 are respectively actuated by pin it coacting with cam surface 88 to cause percussion member 84 to strike the intermediate raceway portion ?6, thereby assuring that all flanged pins coming into the slotted portions TS: and chutes so have: been. jarred: free. of one. another and converted by gravity from relative endwise to sidewise positions and that the lower portions of the raceways-rem'ainfully'loaded. As soon as-the pins have been positioned inithe block. art-station A and are suspended therein by their flanges, the spindles 36 and inserting tools are returned to their initial positions and the turret His rotated90to carry the loadedblock to-station-B.

At station B the prepunche'd. disc I2 is placed with its holes in register with the upwardly extending ends of the pins 8, 8 and ID, ID just loaded. as described and then pressed downwardly onto the pin flanges. This operation may besatisfaotorily and safely accomplished by hand before the clutch 4'4: isagain tripped or mechanical means (notshown) may supply andposition thediscsl2- asindicated. In the next revolution of the main shaft 34 permitted by the clutch 441 another block 20' is loaded at: station A and the turret I4 is shifted 90 to carry the loaded pins and disc l2 from. station B'to station C.

As: above indicated. the pins 8', 8 and I0, H! at station. C are simultaneously upset and clenched against the upper surface of the disc 12 while theendmost' pins over station A are being loaded. The: spring 59- descends' with, but ahead of, the plunger 52 and yieldingly engages the disc: [2. to assure that it is accurately placed down flat. on the four pin: flanges before upsetting action by the: tools: 48,. 48 and. 50, 50 commences. When these upsetting tools are againraised the spring 59 serves asa stripper and-enables the completed assemblage: to maintain. its. position in they block 20: until. the upset pins engage the knock-off cam below station D. The assemblage will be automatically' raised to rest. momentarily on the top of. the plate: I and. then, eitherbycentrifugal force, a blast of air, or other: means not shown, will be transferred from the machine.

Having'described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patent of the- United' States is:

l-. A- machine for processing flanged pins comprising a pin hopper, an oscillatory raceway curvedly extending generally downward from. the hopper freely toconvey therefrom a series of flanged; pins endwise, said raceway including an intermediate portion which isv more: nearly horizontal. and provided wittra longitudinal. slot, the slot being arranged and adapted. to enable the pins. to'be: suspended therein by their: flanges, and means. including a percussionv member ens gageable with said intermediatev portion for: in termittently' jarring the pins entering therein, said: means. being operated by hte oscillatory movements of the raceway:

2.- A machine for inserting flanged pins comprising a: hopper therefor, a vertically recipro-- cable inserting tool, a swingable raceway unit in communication with said hopper and: adapted to conduct the pins endwise therefrom one at a time, said. unit including'a generally downwardly extending tube having an intermediate portion and a delivery end portion, said portions being substantially horizontal and having. continuate' longitudinal slots in which the pins: may: be suspended by'their flanges for sidewise movement, the delivery end portion being movable toward and. from the path. of said tool. for cooperation: therewith, and a detent pivotally' related to the raceway delivery end and slotted to accommodate afiange on the pins andposition' the endmost pin vertically beforerelease thereof to-said tool..

3". A machine as set forth in claim 2 iurther characterized in: that means are provided for swinging thev raceway unit in time relation to the movements of' the: tool, and a jarring device operable by said'. means is engageable with said intermediate portion.

4. A flanged-pin handling. machine comprising; aframe, a reciprocablepin-inserting tool,.a hop.- per, meansv for: feeding flanged pins from thehopper to a position coincident with the path of said. tool; said means including a raceway unit pivotally' mounted on the frame for oscillation. of. its delivery end toward and from said path, the unit having a generally downwardly extending tube in communication withthe hopper, the up per inclined portion of said tube. having. a passageway of a size adapted to conduct the. pins endwise only and the remainder of: the: tube having a longitudinal slot adapted to: suspend? the pins by their fiangesfor sidewisemovement in a row, a jarring device engageablawith thezslotted portion. of. said tube, and mechanism. for oscillat-- ing' the raceway; said mechanism. being. eflective to operate the jarring device to insure; uniform. side-by-side alinement of the lowermost pi'ns.

SYLVES'I'ER; L. GOOKINL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of" this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,603.",81d. Stimpson Oct..l9;.1926 1,882,031 Phelan Oct. 11,1932? 2,154,899 Gaultiere Apr. 18,1939 2,179,900 Sheane Nov. 14,1939- 2;3'I4,464. Skriba Apr. 24, 1945 2,423,038- Merwin J'une:24;,1947 

